Problems: On trip down to Landsend from St Pancras, Dennis lost his pump only to find it now around 3mm thick after a big red bus rode over it! You guessed it, no pump means that Dennis will get a puncture… and he did.
Comments: Few aches and pains to neck and hands. Obvious soar behinds! All very tired and looking forward to tomorrow.
Comments: Ian Hardy joined the team. All staying at Mr & Mrs Illingworths house, Elle's parents. The team went Cheddar Gorge, and also rode an extra 8 miles to get a cream tea. Baby Douglas was a bit grumpy because Daddy Ian would not let him follow on his bike.
Beers Consumed: 2 small Glasses of wine
The team would like to thank Elle for lightening the loads by carrying all the panier bags in her car to Her parents house, and a huge thanks to Her parents for putting them up and feeding them with such nice food.
Problems: Both Susan & Dennis got flat tyres. Dennis got bitten last night and his hand is very badly swollen, the knuckles have disappeared!"
Comments: All a bit sleepy as John kept the entire house awake last night with his snoring, and John is complaining about a numb bum
Beers Consumed: 2 pints
The team would like to say a special Thank You to the Anchor Inn at Eckington. They have a charity collection each week and the two previous weeks collections were given to the team, amounting to £46.00.
DAY SIX - Monday - 15 June 2009
Weather: Very Sunny, A scorching 27°c - Ended in rain
Departure & Arrival Time: 9.15am Start - Finish at 5.00pm
Destination & Miles covered: Telford. 57 Miles
Problems: People have moaned that Dennis' sat nav device seemed to be taking longer routes. So today they are travelling without it, let's see where they end up!
Comments: Top speed today was 37.8mph - Average speed 10.8mph
Problems: Susan went to reach for a drink of water and knocked her bottle onto the road spilling the contents. Susan's back wheel cog is no longer free wheeling, the bike shop may send out a new wheel.
Comments: Today was a supermarket day. Breakfast 7.45am at Asda. 11's were at Tesco, 12's at Lidl and 4's at Morrisons. Susans eyes are bigger than her belly, but not bigger than the 3 men's! Dennis consumed 1 pint of custard where as Phillip could only manage 1/2 Pint.
Destination & Miles covered: Appleby-in-Westmorland. 55 Miles
Problems: The team set off this morning unsure of where they were staying tonight as nowhere had been booked. John is having to use Ibuprofen Gel on his knees as they are very painful.
Comments: 6 Miles uphill climb followed by 6 miles down hill to Bentham. After today the team are approximatley half way through there journey. Top speed today was 46.6mph - Average of 10.8mph
Beers Consumed: 2 Pints
Miles completed so far = 520
DAY TEN - Friday - 19 June 2009
Weather: 15° C Riding into a head wind today, cloudy with some sun
Destination & Miles covered: Sanquhar. 47.25 Miles
Comments: Steady progress was made today up the valley with great views over the river. First break today was in Dumfries, and then a stop at Auldgirth. Top speed today 21.4mph - Average of 10.8mph
Destination & Miles covered: . Paisley - 63.5 Miles
Comments: 7.30am Start for breakfast 8.30am started riding. Lunch was at Asda in Kilmarnock, with tea and scones at Phoenix Park in Linwood. The team then battled through Paisley to find the nights accommodation. The team wore short sleeves for a time today, the first time in over a week. Top speed today 33.2mph - Average of 11.5mph
Destination & Miles covered: . Crianlarich - 56 Miles
Comments: Breakfast at 8.00am. Today's ride started over the Erskine Bridge and then onto the cycle route below it towards Loch Lomond. The team stopped for a break at the Little Chef in Dumbarton, then continued to Luss where they had lunch. After lunch the team rode to Loch Ness and had Tea and Scones at 3.00pm at the far end of Loch Ness, before continuing onto Crianlarich. Top speed today 27mph - Average of 10.9mph
Destination & Miles covered: . Glen Nevis - 56 Miles
Comments: The team set off up Glen Coe and could see the snow capped mountains. The stopped at 11.00am for a cold drink near the top of Glen Coe, then rode down to the Visitors Centre where they had lunch at 1.00pm. The team then rode onto Fort William arriving at 3.30pm for some shopping, and a large Thorntons Ice Cream. They then cycled onto Glen Nevis. Top speed today 26mph - Average of 11.5mph
Miles completed so far = 801.5
DAY FIFTEEN - Wednesday - 24 June 2009
Weather: Another hot day 27° C although it felt hotter ,maybe the thermometrer broke?
Destination & Miles covered: . Loch Ness - 45 Miles
Comments: The team head out across Fort William and onto the Great Glen Cycleway, which runs along side the Caledonian Canal, for 20 miles of off-road riding. The team then took to the A82 stopping off at Lagan for lunch 1.00pm. The team continued on the A82 to Port Augustus where they had Tea & Scones at one end of the village, and Ice cream at the other. The final ride of today was onto Loch Ness Youth Hostel. Top speed today 22mph - Average of 9.7mph
Comments: Left the youth hostel road along the great glen cycle route to Drumnadrochit. Then took A833 towards Beauly. This was the steepest hill in Scotland, at 1 mile long. The team had to walk some of this. Downhill into Beauly for Elevnses. Continuing on the coast road through Dingwall, Invergordon and finished at Tain, which had the best B&B of the trip. Top speed today 41mph - Average of 11.8mph
Wildlife spotted today:- Buzzards and Seals
DAY SEVENTEEN - Friday - 26 June 2009
Weather: Very Hot & Sunny in the 20's°C. Easterly wind kept them cool.
Destination & Miles covered: . John O Groats - 53 Miles
Comments:
The team completed the journey arriving at John O Groats at 3.00pm. After reaching their goal they decided to carry on to Duncansby Head, the most North-Easterly point of the mainland, a further 7 mile round trip from John O Groats. Todays lunch was at Wick. Top speed today 35 mph - Average of 11.2mph
Congratulations to them all for completing this!!!
DAY NINETEEN - Sunday - 28 June 2009
Today the team decided to do some more cycling and cycled to Dunnet Head, which is the most Northerly point of the mainland. Lunch was at Dunnet.
Susan left the tem today to go cycling on the Isle of Skye.
Miles today:- 39 Miles
DAY TWENTY - Monday - 29 June 2009
Day Off!! Took the ferry over to Orkney Islands, (No Bikes!!). The then took a coach tour of the Island.
DAY TWENTY ONE- Tuesday 30 June 2009
Left the B&B at 9.15am made the way over to Thurso taking in the sights around. Lunch was in Thurso, followed by a chilled out afternoon.
The team only managed 25miles today.
They are all set for the Journey home tomorrow.
The Team would like to pass on there Thanks, to all that have followed their progress, and to the Genorous donations to the Three Charities.
